BalleT And Myth

American Ballet Theatre conjures the myth, might, and magic of Frederick Ashton's 1952 imagining of Louis Merante's 1876 three-act ballet Sylvia! Lush costumes, sweeping original stage designs by Robin and Christopher Ironside, and lighting by Mark Jonathan resurrect the tale of the celestial huntress, which is set to a rousing score by Romantic French composer Leo Delibes.

What is the story?

The ballet opens with a scene of worship, where woodland creatures dance before Eros, the god of love. Aminta, a mortal shepherd stumbles across the gaiety, accidentally disrupting it, shortly followed by the beauteous huntress and object of Aminta's affections Sylvia, whose attempts to mock Eros backfire when she wounds Aminta. As she laments over her deeds, Sylvia is kidnapped by the god of the hunt Orion, and the budding lovers are parted. Only help from the gods may reunite them and Sylvia must convince Eros to help her escape Orion's overly amorous clutches.